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Patented lune 2U, |899.

No. 62mm.

J. vB. FORCE. TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT. (Appl con fu d m y 19 189s 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(NoModel.)

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, Patented lune 20, |8919. J. B. FURCE.-

TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT.

(Application -filed May 19, 1898.)

2 Shader-Sheet 2.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. FORCE, OF NVASHING'ION, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TYPE--VVRITER ATTACHMNT..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,180, dated .Tune 20, 1899.

Application filed May 19, 1898. Serial No. 683,160. (No model.)

5 vented certainnew and useful Improvements in Type-Writer Attachments and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which ro it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in attachments for type-writers, dto.; and its objects are to provide a pointer, for use on type-writers employing either shifting or stat 5 tionary carriages,which is easily applied to the machine and can be employed for locating a desired point upon the platen without reference to the scale which is usuallyprovided and to provide means whereby tabulating and 2o other similar work can be performed expeditiously.

To these ends the invention consists of a pointer secured to asta'tionary or shifting part of the type-writer, as will be hereinafter described, and projecting upward to a point above the carriage. Said pointer is formed of spring metal and is preferably adj ustably secured to a base-plate suitably secured to the machine and provided with a spring which is 3o adapted to hold the pointerin a normally vertical position. Said pointer is composed, preferably, of a lower horizontal portion pivoted within the base-plate and having a flattened upper surface, against the sides ofwhich normally rests the retaining-spring, and up` wardly-projecting portions separated by a substantially horizontalintermediate portion forming a sight for the purpose hereinafter described. The lower of said upwardly- 4o projecting portions is preferably flattened near the center to permit of its being forced backward under slight pressure, While the upper of said portions is so curved upon itself as to force the entire pointer rearwardly when an object is forced thereagainst.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure l is Va side elevation showing the device applied to a typethereof. Fig. 3 isacentral vertical longitudi- Fig. 4 is a cennal section ofthe base-plate.

- Fig. 7 is an inverted plan View thereof.

Fig, 2 is a detailed perspective view trai vertical transverse section thereof. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of pointer detached. Fig'G is a top plan view of the base-plate- Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the device as applied, showing a modified form of attachment. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the pointer in lowered position, and Fig. 10 is an enlarged section through the spring and end section of the pointer.

Referring to said figures by letters of reference, A is the base-plate of the pointer, provided along the center with hollow bearinglugs CL, joined by a narrow partition4 or strip d', to cach side of which is a cut-out portion A', each terminating at its outer end in a shoulder A2. Bending over strip a and downward into each of said cut-out portions A and upward against the shoulders A2 is a retaining-spring B, as shown, for the purpose hereinafter described.

Pivoted within the bearing-lugs ct and passing over strip d and under spring B is the lower end portion C of my improved pointer. Said portion is preferably provided with a beveled end c to permit its ready insertion beneath the spring when in proper position. The upper surface of said lower portion C is flattened for the distance between the lugs, as at C', forming shoulders c', between which rests the spring B, which because of its position normally rests against the edges of said flattened portion.

The end portion C 4is bent upwardly from a point near the edge of the base-plate and -is preferably flattened along the central portion, as at D, to permit of its being readily sprung back under slight pressure. At a desired distance above the base-plate said upwardly-projecting portion of the pointer is bent forward a suitable distance, as at D, and then again projects upward and curves back upon itself, as shown at D2.

Base -plate A is provided with suitable means for attaching it either directly to the type-writer or to a hinge-plate of peculiar construction and especially adapted for use on the top of a machine employing a shifting carriage. -Said hinge-plate preferably consists of a substantially vertical arm E, adapted to be suitably secured at one end to the shifting guide-bar X and hinged at the other lOO end to a plate E', resting at all times upon the clips e of the hangers and traveling back and forth thereon when the carriageis shifted. If desired, however, a plate may be provided whereby a smooth bearing-surface is presented to the moving hinge. By thus securing my improved pointer to a type-Writer employing a shifting carriage it remains in the same relation at all times to the platen and the paper thereon. If desired, however, the base-plate A may be secured directly to the frame of the machine, some forms of typewriters permitting the use of the same screws therefor which secure the clips to the casting.

In operation the device is secured to the machine by either of the means hereinbefore described, according to the type of the machine to which it is applied, and the forwardly-projecting portion or sight D", which extends as far over the carriage and as near to the platen as possible, is adj usted to point directly above and on a line with the point of contact of the type. The carriage or platen upon being raised strikes the under side of sight D', forcing the entire pointer backwarduntil free therefrom, said pointer bending along the flattened portion D. The pointer immediately springs forward into close proximity tO the platen when pressure is removed therefrom, and the carriage maybe moved from side to side until any desired point comes into line with the sight. The carriage can then be lowered, the front edge thereof striking the upper portion D2 and again forcing the entire pointer backward until the lower point of said pointer is passed, when the pointer will immediately spring back to its normal position. The type can then be struck and will hit the desired space.

Itwill be further noticed that, as shown in Fig. 2, the pointer, which projects above and over the carriage, is of great advantage in tabulating or writingin columns. By simply moving the carriage after each shift of a line until the pointer sights the edge of the column the line can be written without any reference whatever to the scale.

If it is desired for any reason to remove the pointer from its normal position, as when a cover is placed over the machine, it may be turned down upon the carriage -frame or sprung back under the guide-rod, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. S and in full lines in Fig. 9.

If it is desired to remove the pointer from the base-plate, this can be readily done by simply turning the pointer down until the shoulders c' escape the edges of springB and then withdrawing the same from its bearings a.

In the foregoing description I have shown Ithe preferred form Of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-fl. In a type-writer attachment, the combination of a lower horizontally-projecting arm, of a pointer,and ashouldered base-plate,with a spring secured in said plate and bearing upon said horizontallyprojecting arm for holding the same into orout of operative p0- sition, for the purpose and substanfially as described.

. 2. In a type-writer attachment, the combination of a base-plate,a spring attached thereto, as shown, and the horizontally-projecting arm of a pointer, said spring adapted to bear upon the upper face of said arm, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the platen of a type-writer carriage carrying printed matter on the paper attached thereto, of a pointer having a forwardly-projecting sight coperating with said printed matter, substantially as described.

4c. A pointer for type-writers, the., having a forwardly-projecting sight intermediate its length and provided with an upper recurved portion forguiding said pointer,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A type-writer attachment consisting of a lower horizontally-projecting portion provided with a flattened upper surface, as described, a lower upwardlyprojecting iiattened portion,an intermediate forwardly-projecting portion Or sight, and an upper recurved portion, with a base-plate, bearinglugs upon said base-plate for the reception of said lower horizontally projecting portion, and a spring bearing upon the uppersurface of said portion holding said pointer in a normally vertical position, and bearing upward against shoulders formed at each end of said base-plate, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a type-writer attachment the combination, with a pointer and a base-plate, of a hinged plate supporting, and suitably secured to, said base-plate at one end, and, at the other end, hinged to a plate secured to the shifting portion of a frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. FORCE.

Witnesses:

MORVEN THOMPSON, HERBERT LAWSON.

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